The prized high-school recruit from Maryland opted to play for the Michigan Wolverines where he he headed up an elite rushing attack and made a name for himself as one of the best backs in the country. He broke their all-time record for rushing touchdowns while playing under Jim Harbaugh who has also moved this year by heading up the Los Angeles Chargers.
After two seasons of part-time play, Corum became the Wolverine’s starting running back with spectacular results. After piling up almost 1,500 rushing yards as a junior, he again shined during the their campaign to win the National Championship ending a tick below with 1,245 rushing yards but upped his scoring total to 28 touchdowns on the season. He ended his college career by rushing for 134 yards on 21 carries for two scores against Washington to become the 2024 College Football National Championship MVP.
Height: 5-8
Weight: 213 pounds
40 time: 4.53 seconds
Corum is only 5-8, but put on a show at the NFL Combine where he led all backs with 27 reps in the bench press, ran a solid 4.53 40-time, and added to his volume of highlight reels from the last two seasons.
Table: Player NCAA stats (2020-23)RB
| Year | School | Games | Runs | Yards | Avg. | TD | Catch | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Michigan | 6 | 26 | 77 | 3.0 | 2 | 5 | 73 | 0 |
| 2021 | Michigan | 12 | 144 | 952 | 6.6 | 11 | 24 | 141 | 1 |
| 2022 | Michigan | 12 | 247 | 1463 | 5.9 | 18 | 11 | 80 | 1 |
| 2023 | Michigan | 15 | 258 | 1245 | 4.8 | 27 | 16 | 117 | 1 |
Pros
- Superior vision combined with deadly jump cuts
- Strong runner that runs through arm tackles
- Tremendous burst makes him capable of chunk plays
- Elite decision-making skills for picking lanes and slipping through traffic
- Gym rat with rare combination of strength and speed
- High character guy with a winning attitude
- Smart player who also won academic honors at Michigan
- A backfield asset regardless of scheme
Cons
- Smaller size at 5-8 brings durability concerns; already suffered a meniscus tear to end 2022.
- Marginal use as a receiver in college
- Questions regarding pass protection may limit third downs
- Likely better fit in a committee and lacks the size for short yardage work.
- Will turn 24 during the season
Fantasy outlook
Corum was a beast for the Wolverines and instrumental in their success the last two seasons including that National Championship Offensive MVP in January. He doesn’t project as an every down back due to his size and potential injury concerns but he brings a skillset that will add to any offense. He’s more likely a Day 2 pick and may slide a little further if his previous knee issues and size cause concern.
The natural assumption is that he’d fit great with the Chargers who switch to HC Jim Harbaugh who already knows how to use him. Adding him as a complement to a back like Austin Ekeler should create a formidable 1-2 punch. He’s been speculated to end up with the Cardinals, Packers, Titans, or Bills. But he’d be a fit regardless of franchise because he brings a set of skills that would benefit any team, and that’s furthered by his intelligence and maturity. And falling out of the first round, if not the second, means any team could access him.
He brings a big name to the NFL after winning a National Championship and that could see him overvalued by some in the fantasy community. He should provide fantasy value as a rookie in a role that may expand during the season, but he’s unlikely to be asked to step in and take over a backfield. Corum has elite rushing skills but has to match them weekly against players that were college all-stars and remain healthy.